Tip
Birch bark is distinctively beautiful and often used for crafting.
When collecting bark, don’t take too much; it can harm the tree.
River Birch Tree
River birch (Betula nigra) is often found growing near rivers.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The trees' peeling bark is as attractive as their yellow fall foliage leaves.
They shed their bark like paper birches.
Its bark starts salmon-colored but turns darker as it matures.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Native to the eastern U.S., they can grow as multi-trunked trees or grow to have just one trunk.
They are also more borer-resistant than most birches.
Its fall foliage color is yellow.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
The bark of this tree is famous for another reason: as the material for birch-bark canoes.
Grow this tree if you live in Canada or the northern tier of U.S. states.
It’s native to this region, and it prefers cool temperatures.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Its height and spread are similar to those of river birch trees.
Gray birch trees grow in clumps and produce multiple trunks.
Plant them in full sun to partial shade.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
These trees are best grown in the northern part of the United States or Canada.
This dwarf white birch variety was developed fromBetula pendula, the European white birch.
It matures at a height of 6 to 12 feet.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
It can be grown in planting zones 3 to 9.
Plant it in full sun to partial shade.
Yellow Birch
Another attractive non-white birch tree is the yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis).
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
This tree sheds its bark like paper and river birch trees.
It is a tall tree (60 to 80 feet) with a spread of about 30 feet.
Yellow birches should be grown in full sun to partial shade in planting zones 4 to 7.
Its dark-colored bark and leaves are fragrant.
Grow it in zones 4 to 7 in full sun to partial shade.
The plant grows 40 to 50 feet tall and spreads 35 to 45 feet.
Birch trees live 40 to 50 years on average, although they can live over 100 years.
How to grow and maintain a healthy birch tree.
United States Department of Agriculture Forestry Service.
